Panels and Conventions for nobodies

As program chair of Albacon, the advice is simple: Ask.

Most cons are happy to get new writers on the program. Find out who's handling programming and send an email talking about your credits and what you can do at the convention.

Try to ask early -- if you're asking a week before the con, then it might be too late to get on the program on some of the bigger cons (though a smaller one will accommodate you). If you ask six months in advance, you will probably be welcomed.

Program participants usually get free memberships. The big exception is Worldcon (though you can get your membership fee refunded if the con makes money) and World Fantasy Con (no money refunded).

When I was breaking in as a writer, with a single story sale, I contacted Lunacon and they were happy to add me to the program.

Conventions make money selling books by the speakers they have on their program. If you have books they can sell, are good at speaking and have stuff to say, and have a fanbase which is likely to attend, they'll be interested.

Most conventions have a period during which they invite writers to pitch ideas for talks and workshops. You just need to put together a list of the conventions you can attend, make sure you've got what they need, and then pitch to them at the appropriate time.

Esther_Jones said:

Hi everyone,

I wondered if anyone had any advice for getting conventions to pay attention to you when you're a new writer. Basically a nobody with only a few publishing credits.

Is a pitch letter is the best way?

And as a pro, do you usually have to pay a registration fee?

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Generally, unless you're an invited keynote speaker, you do have to pay.

This is especially true for fan run genre conventions, but it's also true for professionally run industry-related conferences and conventions.

I wouldn't suggest thinking of them as marketing/sales/pr related if you're a writer of fiction; it really isn't going to work well for you in terms of selling books to readers.

You may find them an effective way of networking with other writers, and possibly editors, publishers and agent, but I could tell your horror stories about what not to do.

* Don't line your book(s) up in a display in front of you on a panel.
* Don't relentlessly promote you and/or your books. Participate, don't pimp.
* Don't corner every agent, publisher, or editor and pitch your book. That's just rude. If they ask you what you're working on, an exceedingly brief two-sentente description is all you need.
* Don't talk smack about anyone to anyone. That mousy older woman at the cocktail party might be the best friend of the agent you dream about. Or she might be a consulting typesetter at your current publisher—the you're complaining about.

Besides, if you wait patiently and be reasonably nice, people will talk smack to you about other people - and you'll realize it is your duty *not* to spread it around. You're in on the secret, you've been trusted. That's a bond more powerful than any amount of self-pitching.

Gawd, the things I've heard at conventions...<G>

What genre do you write? I was programming chair for Emerald City Writers Conference and I know that they take proposals through the Greater Seattle Romance Writers of America website. I'm also taking proposals for a small writers' workshop that takes place in the Pacific Northwest - see my sig line for details. PM me if you'd like my contact info.

Not all conferences make money off of the sales of the books at the event -- some have outside contractors come in and sell books as a service, but they don't take a cut. Some do. Some events will give you a discount on your registration or even a free registration depending on how much programming you provide.